UH Manoa law school applauds promotion of Tochiki to associate dean of student services

HONOLULU — The William S. Richardson School of Law proudly announces the long-awaited and most deserving promotion this year of Assistant Dean Laurie Arial Tochiki to Associate Dean for Student Services. Tochiki has served as assistant dean since 1999. With this promotion, Tochiki becomes a key member of Dean Aviam Soifer‘s leadership team with the primary responsibility for planning, organizing and directing all student services activities.

She is also responsible for the administration of the instructional, research and public services objectives of the School of Law, including development of strategic long and short term plans for a robust graduate student services program, administration of the academic advising program, scholarships, admissions, academic actions and recruitment.

Tochiki previously served as assistant professor and adjunct professor from 1994 to 1999. She is an avid supporter of Hawaiʻi‘s children and families. She was the coordinator and one of the founders of the Kids First program at the Family Court of the First Circuit, and coordinator and founder of the ʻOhana Conferencing program of the Department of Human Services, and serves on the Oʻahu Citizen Review Panel for Child Welfare. She practiced for 12 years in the area of family law with eight years as a solo practitioner in Waipahu.

For her devoted work, Tochiki was a co-recipient of the "Golden Gavel" award by the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association, and a recipient of the Hawaiʻi Lawyers Care Niu Award and the Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers Community Service Award.

Tochiki is a 1980 graduate of the UH Mānoa School of Law and earned a BA from Whitman College in 1977 and MSA from Central Michigan University in 1996. Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Tochiki is married and has two children.